Dispensing container



Jan. 26, 1943. M, H gRsALL 2,309,111

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 14, 1940 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 2,309,111 DISPENSING CONTAINER John M.Hothersall, Brooklyn, N.

American Can Company,

Y., assignor to New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application December 14, 1940, Serial No.370,226 4 Claims. (01. 206-42) This invention relates to a sheet metaldispensing container which is adapted for tablets, pills or the like andhas particular reference to a multiple part cover, a part of which isslidable to uncover a tablet for dispensing the same.

The invention contemplates the provision of a metallic box or receptaclecomprising preferably a drawn box body which holds a single layer oftablets when arranged in rows within the box and which is closed by amultiple part cover, one of the cover parts being adapted to remainstationary on the body while the other cover part has a slidingconnection on the stationary part so that the sliding part may be drawnback just the required distance for the dispensing of a tablet.

An object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing containerprovided with a two-piece cover one main part of which is capable ofbeing slid transversely onto the filledcontainer after which the othercomplementary or auxiliary cover part is applied by sliding it onto themain part in a manner-to lock both parts in closing position, theauxiliary cover member then being slidable to uncover an individualtablet for dispensing the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flat, rectangular,pocket type container for tablets and the like which is adapted to beclosed by a multi-part interlocked cover applied as a unit, one of saidcover parts being movable on the other to uncover individual tablets fordisp nsing.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a container such as a tablet box,embodying the invention and showing a multiple part cover in closedposition upon the box;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1 showing anauxiliary cover part in an open position for dispensing an individualtablet;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section showing such longitudinalauxiliary cover part in its open position upon the container body asviewed substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the assembled containerparts as viewed substantially along the line 4-4 inFig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown in the drawinga relatively shalpanel member of the container to low drawn containerbody H which is preferably rectangular in outline and formed from asingle piece of sheet metal. The container body is closed by a two pieceor multiple slide cover comprising a main part l2 and an auxiliary partl3. The main cover part I2, being the larger, is arranged to slidesidewise onto the container when the box is filled and when so assembledcovers over all but one row of the contents. The auxiliary cover part l3(Figs. 1 and 2) is just wide enough to cover this row and to close thebox and is arranged to slide along the top front edge uncover anindividual tablet so that it may be dispensed from the box.

The container body H comprises a bottom l4 having side and end walls l5which terminate in upper curved edge portions l6. These edge portionsare flared or flanged outwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawing, and serve as slide retaining means for the transverse andlongitudinal sliding movement of the slide members l2 and I3.

The main slide cover part I2 is formed with downwardly and inwardlycurved side flanges I'E which engage below and slide along the flangededge portion l6 of the container on two of its end walls l5 when appliedto the box. A similar curved side flange I8 is arranged on theintermediate edge of the cover part I2 to act as a stop when the coverpart is pushed into its stationary closed position upon the containerbody II (Fig. 4) where it only partially closes the box. A detent l9(Figs. 1, 2 and 4) may be formed in the cover part l2 adjacent theflanged edge l8 and this provides a snap lock with the back wall of thebox by means of which the cover part is held in stationary position andis prevented from accidental displacement.

The front side of the main part l2 terminates in an upwardly andoutwardly flanged edge 22 which is spaced apart from the top surface ofthe cover just enough to produce a groove or receiving channel 23 forthe auxiliary slide part I3. The auxiliary slide part is provided with agrooved edge 24 which is formed by a laterally extending wall 25 merginginto a short straight substantially parallel wall section 26. Thissection extends into a downwardly and inwardly spaced flanged edge 21which is of a size and shape so as to easily slide in the receivingchannel 23 of the cover part l2. This sliding connection is loose enoughto permit a slight hinging action of the auxiliary cover part on thestationary cover part.

The opposite side of the auxiliary cover part I3 is arranged with aslide groove 28 produced by a downwardly, inwardly and outwardly curvededge portion 29, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. This permits uniting ofthe two cover parts by sliding one into the other so that both parts maybe applied as a unit when the main cover part is slid into stationaryposition on the box as just described. In this assembling movement theauxiliary cover part is hinged upwardly on the main cover part so thatthe curved edge 29 clears the front wall of the box. After the coverparts are thus in place on the box, the front edge 29 of the auxiliarycover part may be snapped down over the front flange edge l6 of thebody. This locks both cover parts in closed position.

The cover parts may also be assembled separately upon the container bodyII in which event the main cover part I2 is first slid on the containerbody into its stationary position as hereinbefore described. Theauxiliary cover part I3 is then brought into alignment with the edge ofthe partially covered box so that the grooved edge 24 may be slid intothe channel 23 on the main cover part. The curved edge 29 on theauxiliary cover part I3 is simultaneously engaged beneath the frontflanged edge [6 of the container body while continued longitudinalmovement of the cover part l3 closes the container and locks the coverparts against accidental opening.

A short inwardly curled edge 32, similar to the flange IS on the coverpart i2, is formed on one end of the auxiliary cover part l3 and servesas a stop for the auxiliary cover part when it is closed on the boxincident to dispensing the contents. A detent 33 is disposed adjacent tothis curled edge of the slide part and provides a locking means for theslide part when in closed position. A similar detent 34 is also formedin this part of the cover and serves as a stop when the slide member I3is in open position (Fig. 2) at which time it uncovers an individualtablet for a single dispensing action. A corrugated section 35 is formedin the top panel of the auxiliary cover part I3 and provides for thumbengagement to move the cover part to its open or to its closed position(Figs. 1 and 2).

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the iormhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1 claim:

1. A dispensing container for tablets and the like, comprising arectangular container body having an opening therein, a laterally bentflanged edge formed on said body adjacent said opening, a multiple partcover for the container, said cover comprising a main cover part and acomplementary cover part, and a slideway formed in said main cover partparallel to said flanged body edge, said main cover part being securedto said body and overlying a portion of said opening, said complementarycover part being adapted to engage said slideway and said flanged bodyedge in a sliding connection therewith and to overlie the remainingportion of said opening when slid into closed position.

2. A dispensing container for tablets and the like, comprising arectangular container body having an opening therein, the walls of saidbody adjacent said opening being formed with laterally projectingportions, a multiple part cover for the container, said cover comprisinga main cover part and a complementary cover part, parallel flanges onsaid main cover part adapted to slidingly engage parallel sections ofsaid laterally projecting wall portion, a stop member on said main partto engage a wall of said body when said main part has been slid intoposition over a portion of said opening, and a slideway formed on saidmain part at substantially right angles to said parallel flanges, saidcomplementary cover part being adapted to engage said slideway and aprojecting wall portion parallel therewith in a sliding connectionwhereby said complementary part forms a slidable closure over thatportion of said container opening not covered by said main cover partand also coordinates with said stop member to retain said main member inclosing position on said container.

3. A dispensing container for tablets and the like, comprising arectangular container body having side and end walls terminating in anoutwardly bent flanged edge, and a multiple part cover for thecontainer, said cover comprising a main cover part and an auxiliarycover part, the said main cover part being confined on said body as astationary member and partially closing the box after being slid intoposition, the said auxiliary cover part having interlocked slidingconnection with the inner edge of said main cover part and with a sideof said body flanged edge to completely close the box when in closingposition and to expose a tablet for dispensing when in open position,said main cover part having a detent for engaging a side wall of saidbody to hold the cover part in its stationary position and saidauxiliary cover part having detents for engaging an end wall of the bodyto limit its opening and closing movements.

4. A dispensing container for tablets and the like, comprising arectangular container body having side and end walls terminating in anoutwardly bent flanged edge, and a multiple part cover for thecontainer, said cover comprising a main cover part and an auxiliarycover part interlocked together and adapted for application as a unit tothe container by engaging said main cover part in a sliding connectionwith opposed ends of said flanged body edge, said auxiliary cover partbeing hingable on its said interlocked connection with the main cover toengage a section of a side flanged body edge, said auxiliary cover parthaving sliding connection with the main cover part along its interlockededge and also having sliding connection with the engaged side edge ofthe body to open the container and expose a tablet for dispensing.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

